Benignus Elementary School Awarded $2,864 from KEF for ‘Project Sunshine’ Educator Grant

KLEIN, TEXAS – Benignus Elementary School has been awarded a $2,864 Klein ISD Education Foundation (KEF) grant for the "Project Sunshine" initiative, designed to foster empathy, responsibility, and teamwork among students while strengthening life and academic skills.

In a surprise visit from the KEF Celebration Express, the school was honored with the grant alongside Foundation directors, community members, and Superintendent Dr. Jenny McGown. The Celebration Express bus brought excitement and recognition as Benignus Elementary was celebrated as one of the deserving recipients of this year’s grants.

Led by grant writer Leslie Hardee and sponsored by Texas Exterior Systems, Project Sunshine is a monthly service initiative promoting comprehensive, hands-on, interactive learning and service opportunities. The program pairs ACCESS students with their general education peers from another student organization on campus, encouraging them to collaborate on meaningful service projects that benefit the school staff and the community.

Each month, students vote on a new service project, allowing them to take ownership of their decisions while building motor, social, and planning skills. Past projects have included creating flower arrangements and snack bars for school staff, assembling birthday boxes for food pantries, and crafting thank-you cards for veterans.

Project Sunshine is led by the ACCESS teacher and paraprofessionals, with solid support from their fellow classmates. It fosters a collaborative learning environment that boosts students’ confidence and empathy. Success will be measured through improved social skills, increased peer connections, and tangible contributions made to the community.

This initiative will inspire students to make a positive difference, creating a compassionate culture at Benignus Elementary and reinforcing the importance of empathy and community engagement.

“We are excited to present this innovative grant to Benignus Elementary, where it will significantly impact so many students,” Director of Community Relations and Education Foundation Christy Spisak said. “We are deeply grateful to our committed donors who make it possible for us to bring these grants to life!”

This fall, the KEF Celebration Express distributed grants totaling $61,357 to support various innovative and impactful educational initiatives. From interactive technology tools to writing conferences, this year’s recipients exemplify the power of creativity in education. 

We sincerely thank all our sponsors for making these initiatives possible, enhancing the educational experience, and fostering the growth of Klein ISD students.

The Klein ISD Education Foundation accepts grant applications biannually. It supports creative projects that enrich student learning and drive academic success.